Most creators spend years building their audience.

Almost none spend time protecting it.

In this episode, Branden sits down with Gordon Firemark—known as The Podcast Lawyer—to talk about the legal mistakes creators make before they ever become successful.

From copyrights versus trademarks to guest agreements, contracts, AI lawsuits, fair use, and protecting your podcast brand, Gordon explains the legal side of content creation in language anyone can understand.

They also dive into the rapidly changing legal landscape surrounding AI, why creators should treat their content like a real business from day one, and how simple legal protections today can prevent expensive mistakes tomorrow.

Whether you’re a podcaster, YouTuber, coach, entrepreneur, or creator, this episode could save you thousands of dollars—and countless headaches.

Gordon has practiced media, entertainment  and business law in solo practice since 1992.  In podcasting circles, he is known as The Podcast Lawyer™, and is producer and host of the Entertainment Law Update podcast (since 2009), and author of the Podcast, Blog & New Media Producer’’s Legal Survival Guide.  His undergraduate degree in radio, television and film  and experience in live theatre production informs his thinking about all things legal.  In addition to a busy law practice,  He teaches Entertainment Law at  Columbia College Hollywood, Intellectual Property and Media Law at Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and Contract law at Pepperdine Law School.

Look for him on Facebook, Youtube, Linkedin and other social platforms.

http://thepodcastlawyer.com/

Most entrepreneurs don’t own a business.

Their business owns them.

Richard Hickman built and exited a successful cybersecurity company before shifting his focus to helping coaches and consultants build companies that actually create freedom. In this episode, he breaks down the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling, why referrals eventually become a bottleneck, and why hiring before you’re “ready” is often the smartest investment you can make.

We also dive into AI, AEO (Artificial Entity Optimization), lead generation, delegation, hiring virtual assistants, and why tracking the right business metrics matters far more than chasing vanity numbers.

If you’re building a coaching business, consulting business, or simply want more freedom without sacrificing growth, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can implement immediately.

⸻Our guest today is Richard Hickman. Richard is the founder of Piqued Consulting, a marketing and CRM agency for high-ticket coaches and consultants. Before marketing, he built and exited a cybersecurity and digital forensics firm. Today, he helps coaches install the systems that turn their expertise into a real business — marketing, sales, CRM, retention — and he hosts The Business of High-Ticket Coaching podcast. He's also a dad of six and husband to speaking coach Marianne Hickman. Richard, welcome to the show.

https://piqued.consulting/

Can someone escape generational poverty, build hundreds of millions in business revenue, and still say success isn’t about the money?

Jerry Brzee did exactly that.

Growing up in poverty with eight siblings, surviving violence, addiction, and life-altering setbacks, Jerry eventually built and sold multiple companies generating more than $450 million in revenue. But the biggest lesson wasn’t about business—it was about taking ownership.

In this episode, Jerry shares why becoming a father changed everything, why “do what you love” is terrible business advice for most entrepreneurs, how personal responsibility became his superpower, and why breaking generational curses starts long before the money shows up.

Whether you’re building a business, rebuilding your life, or trying to become the person your family needed growing up, this conversation will challenge the way you think.

⸻

Today’s guest is Jerry Brazie, an entrepreneur who has built, bought, and sold more than a dozen businesses that have generated north of $450 million in revenue. But it’s his journey that will make you rethink what’s possible. 

Raised in abject poverty as number seven of nine kids, he faced violence early and often: shot at, stabbed, beaten within an inch of his life. Those experiences built the relentless mindset that’s carried him forward. 

And after decades in the game, he’s currently running an eight and a seven-figure company, and recently started a third one, The Kronos Group: a tight-knit peer group for serious business operators who want direct conversations and real accountability. 

Jerry talks straight, with dry humor and zero pretense. You’ll hear the failures, the close calls, the nights he almost quit, and exactly why he didn’t.  Buckle up, this man is intense.

https://thekronosgroup.org/

What if everything Hollywood taught you about self-defense is wrong?

Christopher Thompson has spent decades teaching martial arts, firearms, and real-world personal protection, but one tragic event completely changed the way he viewed violence. After losing one of his students in a knife attack, Christopher realized that most self-defense training doesn’t prepare people for what actually happens in real life.

In this episode we dive into the psychology of violence, why awareness beats fighting, the myths surrounding firearms, trauma-informed self-defense, protecting your family, situational awareness, and practical strategies anyone can use to stay safer.

If you’ve ever thought self-defense was only for fighters, this conversation will change your mind.

Salutatuons! 
I'm instructor Thompson, a firearms instructor, range safety officer, certified firearms specialists ( allows me to testify in court on firearms and ammunition) and a martial arts instructor. I have twenty seven years in as a teacher, and a practitioner of 31 in Ed Parkers Kenpo.
To keep it brief in 2014 a student of mine was brutally, murdered with a knife. He wasn't just a student. He was a family friend and ever since and for more than a decade, I have been creating a resume that no one else had. As a student first I started cross training in everything I could possibly find. Looking for a solution to how to stop a knife attack. At the time I thought I knew, I was wrong! I promised his parents who were friends of mine that I would always keep his name alive in the bravery of his actions trying to stop someone who just and took the life of his best friend in front of him. I went to Kali, Muay Thai and firerarms. I've spent every day since studying in practicing on how to survive a stabbing event. I run a couple of companies and with my business partner. We created Dragonfly academy of integrated defensive arts. Specializing in managing violence, and specifically on a mission to help serve marginalized communities like LGBTQ+, indigenous and native population, and groups that face targeted acts of violence. We built this to help save lives, because self defenses is for everyone!

http://www.dragonflydefensivearts.com/

Does the justice system truly treat everyone equally?

In this episode of Listen Bitch Presents: Tell Me Why You’re Special, former prosecutor and criminal defense attorney James M. Porfido shares lessons from more than 35 years inside the legal system. From prosecuting violent crimes to defending the accused, James explains how perspective changes depending on which side of the courtroom you’re standing on. The conversation explores wrongful accusations, media influence, celebrity trials, constitutional rights, judicial integrity, and why justice isn’t always as simple as guilty or innocent.

What happens when life completely derails your plans?

In this episode of Listen Bitch Presents: Tell Me Why You’re Special, Branden sits down with entrepreneur and nonprofit founder Rachel Minion to discuss the life-changing cancer diagnosis that transformed both her business and her purpose. Rachel shares how emergency appendicitis led to discovering appendix cancer, the emotional isolation that followed, and why she created Beyond Basic Needs to provide comfort kits for cancer warriors across the country.

This conversation explores resilience, entrepreneurship during crisis, mindset, healing, leadership, marriage, purpose, and turning life’s greatest interruptions into opportunities to serve others. Whether you’ve faced cancer personally or simply need hope after unexpected setbacks, Rachel’s story is a powerful reminder that purpose is often born from pain.

⸻Rachel is a powerhouse of innovation and resilience, leading Rockstarr & Moon to new heights in B2B marketing. As the founder and CEO, she has built a cutting-edge agency specializing in growth hacking, demand generation, and authority building, empowering businesses to achieve remarkable success through seamless integration and transparency.

Rachel’s journey is marked by her transformative role as the Director of Marketing at Ticketmaster, where she faced the challenge of a pandemic furlough with unwavering determination. Turning adversity into opportunity, she grew her side hustle into a thriving business generating over $500k annually.

Beyond her professional triumphs, Rachel is the heart behind Beyond Basic Needs, a nonprofit she founded to support cancer warriors with chemo care kits. As a cancer warrior herself, she understands the importance of community and support, ensuring no one faces their battle alone.

Rachel’s bold, unapologetic style and 20 years of marketing expertise make her a sought-after speaker who delivers not just talks but lifelines. She shares raw, honest insights on navigating career highs and lows, facing cancer head-on, and finding one’s authentic voice.

Rachel Minion is a visionary leader, a compassionate advocate, and a beacon of resilience, inspiring others with her creativity, courage, and unwavering spirit.

https://rachelminion.com/

Is your child addicted to video games… or are they trying to meet emotional needs they don’t know how to express?

In this episode of Listen Bitch Presents, Nathan Graham shares a powerful perspective that challenges how parents think about gaming, screen time, and connection.

In this episode we discuss:

If you enjoy meaningful conversations that challenge the way you think, subscribe for more conversations with extraordinary people.

Nathan is the author of Why Won't He Just Log Off?, speaker, coach, entrepreneur, and father. Through his work with families, parents, and communities, he helps people better understand the growing challenges of video game addiction, excessive screen time, and digital dependency in children and teens.

Rather than focusing solely on limiting technology, Nathan explores the deeper emotional, social, and psychological needs that often drive excessive gaming. His approach helps parents move beyond constant conflict, strengthen communication, rebuild trust, and reconnect with their children.

Drawing from personal experience, extensive research, and years of coaching and leadership, Nathan provides practical, real-world strategies that families can implement immediately. His mission is simple: help parents understand what is happening behind the screen so they can create healthier relationships, stronger families, and lasting change.

https://syntheticecho.ca/why-wont-he-log-off

https://syntheticecho.ca/why-wont-he-log-off

Most entrepreneurs don’t fail because they’re bad at business—they fail because they don’t understand their numbers.

In this episode of Listen Bitch Presents: Tell Me Why You’re Special, Branden sits down with CPA and business advisor Summer Morris to unpack the financial habits that separate thriving businesses from struggling ones. They discuss cash flow, debt, pricing, paying yourself, financial confidence, and why avoiding your bank account only makes things worse. Summer shares her own financial struggles, the lessons that transformed her business, and simple strategies every entrepreneur can use to build wealth with confidence instead of fear.

Summer is a CPA who helps business owners understand how their business actually makes money.

She works with owners who are profitable but still feel cash-strapped, helping them identify where money is leaking, make better financial decisions, and increase profit without adding more stress.

Through her Clarity CEO Reset, Summer gives business owners a simple framework to understand their numbers and confidently decide what to do next.

https://summermorriscpa.com/clarity

Why do so many people know what they should do for their health but never actually change?

In this episode of Listen Bitch Presents: Tell Me Why You’re Special, Branden sits down with Dr. Len Lopez, chiropractor, nutritionist, strength coach, and creator of the 5 Steps a Day framework.

Together they discuss why consistency always beats motivation, why sleep is the most overlooked pillar of health, how daily habits shape your future, why accountability matters more than information, and practical ways anyone can begin transforming their life one small step at a time.

Whether you’re trying to lose weight, improve your mindset, build healthier habits, or simply stop starting over every Monday, this conversation offers practical wisdom you can use immediately.

If this episode challenged the way you think about health, send it to someone who’s tired of starting over.

Subscribe to Listen Bitch Presents for conversations with extraordinary people who are changing lives.

And if you’ve been thinking about starting your own podcast, quit waiting. Podcasting is still one of the greatest opportunities almost nobody is taking advantage of. Join my free Podcast Support Group and let’s build something that matters.

For over 25 years he has been helping people EAT Right and TRAIN Smart.

Over the years, he saw people tracking what they were doing for their "Physical" body... and often thought what about Mind and Spirit?

As a result, he created "5 S.T.E.P.S. a Day" a unique tool that helps you track how you feed Body, Mind, and Spirit.

It's NOT Rocket Science... It's Feedback and Accountability. 

Are you doing the things that will move you out of that 'Vicious' cycle - and into that 'Virtuous' Circle?  

He also created 5 STEPS for TEENs. The S.T.E.P.S. are the Same - but Different.

Come learn more about 5 S.T.E.P.S. with Dr. Len

https://5stepsaday.com/

What happens when a lifelong truth seeker sits down to discuss consciousness, quantum physics, spirituality, personal responsibility, and the nature of reality? In this episode of Listen Bitch Presents: Tell Me Why You’re Special, Branden LaNette interviews Alan Gillanders, author, artist, entrepreneur, and explorer of human consciousness.

Alan shares the story of leaving conventional beliefs behind after years of searching for deeper truth, including his experiences studying Eastern philosophy, meditation, quantum concepts, and personal transformation. Together they discuss stress, suffering, identity, manifestation, higher consciousness, technology, media, personal freedom, and why so many people spend their lives disconnected from themselves.

Whether you agree, disagree, or somewhere in between, this conversation will challenge you to think harder than you did yesterday.

Alan has always had an inquiring mind, asking, "What is truth?", a timeless question at the core of existence. With decades of study in metaphysics, quantum theory, consciousness, and ancient spiritual teachings and traditions, Alan weaves together the mystical and the scientific, offering a voice that is both intuitive and analytical. Having witnessed and experienced miraculous events, his work resonates with those seeking meaning beyond dogma and reality beyond illusion.

Alan believes the inward journey is a sacred space where thoughts take form, and the soul is remembered; where we realize our true nature: not separate, but expressions of the infinite. His writing encourages readers to reconnect with the divine essence that permeates the entire cosmos.

This book represents Alan’s first major literary project, stemming from years of journaling, meditation, and profound inner exploration. A passionate artist, he mainly works in oil painting and has experience in metal sculpture. He owned and managed an art gallery in Subiaco, Western Australia, for more than ten years, and has led several other creative and business ventures.

Alan resides with his wife in Quinns Rocks, a coastal suburb of Perth. Together, they have four children and a lifelong dedication to creative and spiritual growth.

https://alangillanders.com/